Kat Williams’ “A Tribute to Life”

Singer Kat Williams will be discussing the issue of racism in a panel held at White Horse Black Mountain. In between the conversation, she will also be performing songs.

Emmy-nominated Asheville-based chanteuse Kat Williams “was personally requested by the actor Robin Williams as the featured entertainer” at the wrap party for the film Patch Adams, according to her bio. She opened for Chaka Khan, in 2008 she appeared as a competitor on America’s Got Talent, and last years she was named AMG Female Vocalist of the Year.

Next week, Williams works her magic on the Diana Wortham Theatre stage in a special two-night “A Tribute to Life” performance. The story, told in song, “parallels her life, rooted in the blues, re-invented through jazz, informed by the deep feelings of Originals and Soul while demonstrating the healing powers of love,” says the description on the Diana Wortham website. “Kat, soulfully and emotively, through her rich passionate voice, seeks the honest and beautifully raw truths about life.” Free Planet Radio (percussionist River Guerguerian, multi-instrumentalist Chris Rosser and Grammy-winning bassist Eliot Wadopian, along with alto-sax player Chris Hemingway) provide accompaniment.

Friday and Saturday, Feb. 15 and 16, 7 p.m. nightly. $25. A limited number of $40 tickets are available for the Friday night show — the package includes admission and an after-party at Carmel’s Restaurant.

About Alli Marshall

Alli Marshall is the arts section editor at Mountain Xpress. She's lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. Alli is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall